More U.S. Couples Living Together Instead of Marrying, CDC Finds

Last Updated:
2013-Apr-04
::
(HealthDay)

THURSDAY, April 4 (HealthDay News) -- Many more American women
are living with their partners rather than tying the knot, a new
government survey finds.

And they live together longer than couples in the recent past,
and many more get pregnant before marriage, according to the survey
released Thursday by the National Center for Health Statistics,
which is part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.

Nearly half of women aged 15 to 44 years old "cohabited" outside
of marriage between 2006 and 2010, compared with 43 percent in 2002
and 34 percent in 1995. The report is based on in-person interviews
with more than 12,000 women in that age group.

One reason more people are living together is a well-documented
delay in the age at which people are marrying, said study lead
author Casey Copen, a demographer with the National Center for
Health Statistics.

"Cohabiting couples may be waiting for improved financial
stability before they make a decision to marry and, in the process,
become pregnant and have a baby," she said. "As you cohabit longer,
there's more of a chance to become pregnant."

Many of these arrangements occur at a young age, with
one-quarter of women cohabiting by age 20 and three-quarters saying
they had lived with a partner by age 30.

During the first year of living together, nearly 20 percent
became pregnant and went on to give birth, according to the
report.

Along with this trend, fewer women reported getting married in
the period from 2006 to 2010 than in either 2002 or 1995 (23
percent, 30 percent and 39 percent, respectively). Of those who
became pregnant the first year, 19 percent got married within six
months of the pregnancy, versus 32 percent in 1995.

Education and income play a role in how long women cohabit and
whether they get pregnant or marry, Copen said.

"Those who have less than a high school degree are cohabiting
for longer periods of time," Copen said. "Women who have a
bachelor's degree or higher are more likely to move into
marriage."

Less educated women were also more likely to become pregnant
while they were living with their partner.

The rate of cohabitation increased in all racial and ethnic
groups except for Asian women.

Here are some highlights of the report:

For the period between 2006 and 2010, 23 percent of recent
births happened while the couple was living together, up from 14
percent in 2002.

The length of time couples lived together averaged 22 months in
2006 to 2010, compared with 13 months in 1995.

About 40 percent of people living together got married within
the first three years, while 32 percent continued to live together
and 27 percent broke up.

More white women (44 percent) and foreign-born Hispanic women
(42 percent) married their partners within the first three years of
living together compared with only 31 percent each for black women
and Hispanic women born in the United States.

Women who had not finished high school were more likely to live
with someone (70 percent) than women who had finished college or
beyond (47 percent).

Women with more education were more likely to marry than those
with less education, 53 percent within three years versus 30
percent.

It's not clear what effect these trends may have on the health
of families, women and children. Previous research has shown that
people who are living together -- married or not -- tend to be
healthier both physically and mentally, Copen said.

Children tend to be happier and healthier the more stable their
parents' union is, regardless of whether the "union" has been
formalized or not, she added.

This study did not look at how long couples stayed together
beyond three years.

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.